Electrically-controlled change-speed mechanism.



I H. G. BALDWIN. ELEGTRIGALLY UONTROLLED CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1913.

Patented. Mar. 2, 1915,

3 SHEETBSHEBT 1.

IN ENTbR- WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY H. G. BALDWIN.

ELEGTRICALLY CONTROLLED CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1913.

L1 mwflh Patented M21112, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES:

IN ENTOR O 1:? wa w H. G. BALDWIN.

ELECTR IGALLY CONTROLLED CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

4- CZzdfifiwilcke 62 WITNESSES: 'INVENTOR srarns ran HENRY G. BALDWIN,OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIGALLY-CONTROLLED CHANGE-SPEED MECHANISM.

Application filed July 15, 1913. v Serial No. 779,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Gr. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements inElectricallysControlled Change-Speed Mechanism, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to powertransmitting mechanism, and particularlyto an electrically-controlled and operated selecting mechanism forchange speed and reversing gear.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide, incombination with a driving shaft and a driven part, a variable speed andreversing. gear with means for electrically selecting one of the changespeed or reverse gears, as may be desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, incombination with a change speed and reversing-gear consisting of aplurality of individual gears, a driver for the gears and part to bedriven, and a mechanism selectable and operable electrically, for thecoupling of one of the gears to the driven part or an intermediateconnection therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in combinationwith a variable speed and reversing mechanism, means for electricallyselecting and coupling elements of the mechanism, for the transmissionof power, and means for manually selecting and operating elements ofsaid mechanism independently of the electrical means' Other objects andfunctions of the invention in its entirety and details will be mademanifest hereinafter.

he invention consists in the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the device partly in section and with the under coverremoved. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the op posite side of the device.Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section through the mechan-ism andcasing. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit andswitch panel with the switches in elevation. Fig. 5 is adetail' sectionin elevation of the man a y-op able transm ssion cnnt el ed lever. 'Fig.6 is a detail sectional view longitudinally through the lever operatedmechanism.

In its illustrated form the invention involves a driving shaft or part2, entering and suitably journaled in a casing 3, having on one side aremovable cover 4 and on the opposite side a removable bearing and panelmember 5, the casing with its cap and panel being substantiallyliquid-tight for containing a lubricant in which may run thetransmission gearing. On the inner end of the shaft 2 there is keyed aplurality of pinions 6 7 and 8, of suitable proportions, eachrespectively engaging change speed gears 91 0 and 11 of successivedecreasing diameter; the gear 9 being the low speed gear, gear 10 beingthe intermediate, and gear 11 the high speed. Each of these gears isprovided with elongated hubs 12, concentrically telescoped and bearingupon each other, the innermost hub 12 running upon anti-frictionbearings 13 interposed between the inner hub and a tubular shaft 14carrying on one end the reverse gear 15 which meshes constantly with thepinion 6 on the shaft 2 and runs constantly in an opposite direction tothe gears 910 and 11, which also are constantly in mesh with theirrespective pinions. The gear 15 runs upon sets of anti-friction bearings1617, the former embracing a transversely arranged shaft 18 passingthrough the tubular shaft 14 of the gear 15 and carrying on one end,adjacent v to the hubs 12, a series of telescoped, relativelylongitudinally-slidable, automatically-retracting clutchrings 192021 and22, the latter being splined upon the shaft end 18, and being capable ofmoving to bring its clutch face into intermesh with the complementaryend of the tubular sleeve 14; the clutch ring 21 is movable into drivingengagement with the lowermost change high-speed gear 11; theintermediate clutch ring 20 is interchangeable with its companionintermediate gear 10 and the outermost clutch ring 19 is interchangeablewith the low-speed gear 9. The several clutch rings 192021 and 22 arekeyed together for thetransmission of rotation from one to the other,and each is capable of independent slidingmotion with relation to theother, so that any one of the series may be shifted to bri g ltnt d ivig engagement shaft 2- and through the gears 6-7 .and- 8,

and these each transmitting it through the change speed or 'reversegears, will impart its rotary motion. to thc, qmplementary coupledclutch ring, and this "latter will vide ,for the event that. upon.theiengagement of the cam 32 with any ofthe pushrods, 30,.the associatedclutch ring of which may be momentarily-so disposed that its Iclutch-face was not in proper registration with the clutch face of t srespective. gear, J

that injurylto the parts would be prevented transmit its motion throughthe seriesfof'ffby the yielding movement of the cam 32 relative keyed',concentrically arranged clutch members to thetransverseshaft 1 8,. whichmay be utilized directlyas the dr ven; member: for;; the. application of*power, or may. 'belan intermediate member and transmit its power toanother part, asifor 1nstance :by a fsprlocket eh'ain ;;and wheelconstruction 23,- for impartingr-power to a more:distan'tishaft,.gasthedriving, shaft24 of a It "is .an importantfeature of? my present invention toprovide means whereby any one. of theclutch rings '19,- 20, 21 or 22 may be electricallyselected; and Yoperated to, carrywitdnto driving engagement with -'its fcompaniona.driving' gear or part, and alsojto provide: manually-operable meansfor shifting any 0f;-tl-1e-,-clutch rings independently of. theelectricallyoperatedi means.

.The primary function of-the present inventionbeing [the provision of anelectricallyoperated iclutchfmechams'mgl have shown a; form-ofclfitchmechanism which consists "ma-plurality of-shifters 25, one-forieach ofthenslidable'; clutch r ngs,- the ShlftBIS.

the resulti '-nglongitudinal shiftingpf the having -yoke-por,tions;embracing or partly embracing their .-respecti-ve-clutch r ngs forcircumferential movement, and each sh fter having a suitable bearing in"which itmay be reciprocated, so as toshift its so-called clutch ring.'T-heshifters 25-are here shown as each respectively connected to; alever 26 by a link 27,-,the severalilevers 26 being freely tiltableabout a fixedsupport or' rod 28,;"appropriatel-y disposed 'in' thecasing 3, each lever .26 'ha'vi-ngfa 'linkconne'ction 29-withajpush-rod30 slidably mounted in abearing,formed in thecasing 3, andcarrying atits-outer'end' a cam roller 31, ar-

ranged in therpath'of- 1a rotaryjslidable cam 32, suitablywsupportedandthrust forward by a spring The cam 32 ismounted upon a,gear;34j,journaled upon'a stud-spindle 35 ofthe easing; :Therejs a"push-rod 30,having? itsaroller 31-arran ed .in the path of the revolving cam 32, oreach of the shifter-leve rs'26,-fand during the rota- .tion of the gearwheel- 34 I thecam; 32 -.will be carried toward and depress a; push-rod30, thus resulting in" the rockingmovement of the lever; 26- which istranslated into a sliding movement by fthe shifter 25, with respectiveclutch ringftojcaa'ry it into mesh withits coordinate gear. qThe purpose.of the 'yielda-ble supportyor spring- 33 for thrq mg-;;the forvnard y.-;1s; .t0 pro:

"algainst thespring 33 until suchtime that -due to therotationrelatively of the change gear and its-coordinate clutch ring the whichis here shown-.assecured. upon the shaft. 37 of electrically-driven,reversely rotating motors .38 and 39, which when energized drive theshaft 37- in the pinion 36, and therefore in turn operate the gear 34.

as A For controllingthe direction ofrotation 5.;

of the motor shaft .37 by the'selection-and energization of one or theother of the motors T38 and 39,"there is provided apsuitableelectrically-controlled system with" such circuits and, switches as willcontrol the energization of either of the motors.- One form of theelectrical system is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, as involving. a

switchrboard .or panel 40, preferably. disposed within the casing underthe cover'5,

and upon which are suitably mounted a plurality of switches .as,,4lj.theneutral switch,- 42 the reverseespeed sWitch,'43;the low speedswitch, 44: the intermediate speed switch, and 45 the high speed switch.Theseswitches are turnablyjsupporgsed upon suitable posts 46 and aresubstantially V-shaped, as shown'in Fig. 4, with thecrotch disposed Vtoward the center of the'panel 40, so as to be engaged by a controller47, comprising an arm or pin projecting from the gear wheel 34,- andwhich arm is thereby carried around as the gear is revolved. Upon theends of the V-shaped switches, and insulated therefrom, are securedcircuit-closing plates 4849, which are adapted to.be thrown intoelectrical contact with respective. .'e1ectric terminal clips 50 and 51,disposed on opposite sides of the posts 46,

about\which the several switches are adapt- I the further movementof'the controller 47 carries it into engagement with the V-shaped switch41, which is thencarriedto an intermediate'position as between its resective dontact clips, 50 '51. The circuit 0 'ps 50-51 are branches of aline joining ati52,

for instance, which runs tof-onejof the "pests,

as 53,; eta switchboard, newbie whereas provided a post for-each of.the'switches 41-42T43'44- and 45, a circuit-closing lever 54. ismovable over any one of. the circuit posts. 53 to. close the circuit,the

switch being directly connected by. a lead" 55 to. a source ofelectrical energy, as a battery or. generator, indicated. at 56, thereturnlead 57 of which is provided with a switch 58 which is controlledby and o erates simultaneouslywith a part 59 of the clutch lever of thepower-transmitting mechanism to which the driving shaft 2 may beapplicable; and so long as the clutch carrying the member 5.9 is closedso that poweris transmitted. to and by the shaft 2, the automatic switch58 is open and breaks the electric circuit of the clutch-controllingmechanism herein involved. When the clutch carrying the member 59 isreleased to disconnect the shaft 2,.the switch 58 then closes thecircuit in the line 57, which line is connected to a distributer post60, from which there are run two branches 61 and 62, each of which isprovided for energizing respective brake ,coils 63 and '64, which arerespectively. connected in parallel, as at 6565', to their coiirdinatemotor circuits in which are mounted one or the other of the motors 3839.

The operation of the circuit of the mechanism in diagram in Fig. 4 isasfollows: Assuming that the controller 47 has been stopped so that theswitch 41 is in a neutral position as between its respective terminals50 and 51, then, if itis desired to throw in the low speed gearasbycoupling the gear 9 by means of its, clutch 19, the op.-

17 1, from which runs a motor circuit. line 72,

joined to the motor 38, and=from which line 72 there is branched thecoil line 65'- energizing, the electric brake-coil 64 to release a brake73 on the shaft 37, the current from the coil 64 passing along the line62,-to the distributer icon-1. 65011 60, thence. through the switch 58,which wouldbe closed by. reason of the normal Operation of releasing theclutch member 59 to which the switch v58 is secured, thence passingthroughthe switch 58 alongtheline 57 to the source 56. From this it willbe :seen that as soon as the switch lever 54-is moved on to the button53 of the'lowr-speed gear, a circuit-will be completed. throughthe-motor 38 andjshunted thmrgh the magueuecal brake 73, whereupon themotor. would drive the shaft 37, and this, in turn, carrying the pinion.38, wouldrevolve the-gear 34, which would turn: the controller 4 towardthe switch 43,.and by doing so the switch 41 would be swung down toclose the circuit at itsclin 50; the continued movement of thecontroller. 47 swinging the switch 43 out of switch of the-system may beconsidered the switch 58, which is controlled by the movement .of theclutch connection 59, so that unless the clutch member 59 is moved tosuch positionas will disconnect the shaft 2,

the switch 58 will be in open position; but as the clutch member 59 ismoved with the releaseofthe clutch, the switch 58 will be closed,whereupon in conjunction with the proper movement of themanually-operated switch lever 54 a desired circuit may'loe closed,- andone after the other of the clutches 19-20.-21.22 be mechanically shiftedby the power derived from the motor 38 or 39, as may be the case. y

in order that" the change speedmechanism m-ay be controlled entirelyindependent of theelectrie-selecting and controlling sysham, 1. haveprovided a manually-controlled and independently-operable mechanismwhereby the several shifter levers 2.6 may be individuallyactuated, andthis means is shown as comprisinglink connections 80 for each lever 26,the links being respectively connected to. couplers 81, shown as socketmembers, Fig. 5, in which are reciprocable plungers oractuators 82. Thelink members 80 projectv through suitable bearings in the case 3 and arenormally, automatically projected by springs 83, the tension of whichmay be adjusted'by adjustable collars 84; the functions of the springs'83- being to-normally hold theseveral clutch rings 1920.-21+-22disengaged from their respective companion gears 'by rocking the levers26 to shift the shifters 2.5 outwardly. Thelinks 80 are pivotally orotherwise suitably connected ito the-couplers 81, which have a freemovement in one direction with respect to their actuators 82 when thelevers 26 are operated by the electriccontrol, including the gear 34 andthe push-rods 30, whichwould cause the' links 80to be drawn inwardly,whereupon the couplers 81 would slide along the actuators 82, thismovement teamma e by theelottl' in the con-- pler. Should it for.any'reason"become necessa'ry or desirable to'shiftthacllitch ringstheir respective links' 80 and rock the levers 1o -may-be moved towarda'dog keyed onthe 26, Any suitablemean's may beemployed for operatingthe actuators 82, and in' the present instance I have shown a rockershaft.

85, upon which is slidablea"lever 86, which outer end of the 'shaft 85,andpby which tiltedforwardly or rearwardly, as the case may require,coincidently forcing one or the other of the rods '82intoopcrativeen- Igagement with its coupler 81, and thereby .the proper link 80 would bedepressed to rock its coiirdinate lever 26'. Suitable conmotion is hadas between the rocker shaft 85 and the actuators 82 by means of a lever88 ext nding diametrically acrox the shaft 85- and engageable with theadjacent ends of the actuators 82." When the hand-lever 86 is shifted onthe shaft 85 into mesh with the dog 87 and then thrown in the directionindicated by the arrow n, Fig. 5, ,the upper actuator 82 will engage andshift the coupler "81 with its connected link 80, to'rock its lever 26and throw the clutch ring 19 into mcsh with the low-speed gear 9;.and asthe upper end of th'e'lever88 forces the upper 'actuator 82 inwardly,the lower actuator'82 is retracted from its respective coupler 81, ,eachof the couplers 81 being shown as slottedat 81" to allowthenecessaryforward play of-its actuator 82'independentlys So long as thelever 86 is -shift'ed'laterally' into I "engagement with the. dog 87a1idf'tl'1e lever 86 lrocked rearwardly, as at -a,-'or forward, as atb,then the rocker shaft 86 is actuated,

andwhen it is desired to disconnect the ,dog

87, the operator shiftsthe lever 86"laterally,

bringing it into mesh with'another dog 87 which is secured upon atubular shaft 89, Fig. 6, which carries a diametrically extend ing lever9Qr'engaging'respective actuators .91, and which,;controlsthe rocking ofthe respective 3 levers 26 and the movement .of the'intermediatespeedclutch and the high speed clutch. 4- 1', "1- Having thus describedmy tinventiomiwhat 'I"c1aim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-'ent,=1s: V 1, i The combination inpower-transmitting apparatus,ofdrivingand driven elements, gearing forlvaryin'g the speed-of or forre.- ve'rs'ing'the'driven element, and electricallyoperatedclutch"mechanism comprising a 'cami'forjc'oupling' said gearing to's'aidele- 'ments.

2. a heat e and -=revesing 'gearing comprising 'clut'chesforinterlocking engage me'nt with respective-membersiof said gear- 'ing",electrically-operated mm for a manually-controlled electrical trollingthe'operatio'n of said cam. a

3. Alchange speed and reversing gearing comprising, a' seriesof clutchesengageable "with respective elements of said gearing,

means for-shiftingsaid clutches positively '-in"one' direction to engagesaid gearing,

means for automatically retracting the clutches, and electricallyoperated instru mentalities for actuating the clutch-shifting 7 means.

when engaged with the lever ,86, would be ii-A change speed andreversing gearing comprising a; series of clutches 'engageable withrespective elements of said mechanism,

means for shifting said clutches positively shifting means,"saidelectric instrumentalities comprising a motor-driven shaft witha'gear-and a cam member driven by said "gear' for actuatingprogressively parts jof said shifting. means, and a switch-board 'withrespective circuits for controlling the direction and degree of rotationof said cam.

Apower-tran'smission mechanism comprising a driving shaft and adrivenpart,

a plurality of gears substantially constantly -intermeslied, derivingpower from said shaft, a series of clutches adapted to be shifted intooperative engagement with re spe'ct to said gears, andhaving'driving'connection'with the driven part, shifting levers "forsaid-clutches, a cam for, progressively Ioperating said shifting levers,electricallyoperated meansyfor actuating said cam, and

the cam actuating;means.--

' 6; Agpower trans on fmechanism compr n 'a r i ghaf n a dr v P rt, aplurality of gears substantially constantly "-int ermeshed', ierivingpower-from said driving shaft a seriesof clutches havingfirivingconnectionwith the driven part, mechanism for 'shi -fting- -=saidjclutches into- 'oper; ative' engagement with respect to'said gears,

a neclna -I ism comprising-a cam for-progress sively operating:-elements ofsaid shifting mechanism toth row in the clutches, means forautomatically retracting the clutches,

electrically operated means for actuating the cam, a" series of circuits1 with switches ioo y t m automatically actuated by the. electricallyoperated mechanism, and a manuallyoperab-le 'switch-lever movable toengage contacts. in the several circuits of; which said switches formparts. Y A -"-'-7.;' A change speed and rcversing gearing c mpngdrivengan clutches for 'operativ y connecting-saidf parts an electriccontrol and clutch operating system comprising rotatable mechanism forshifting-the clutches, electricallywperated driver for rotating a'driving part, a p 1; fiolbe 8. In combination with a change speed andreversing power-transmitting mechanism, comprising a driving part, apart to be driven and clutches for connecting said parts, an electriccontrol and clutch-operating system comprising mechanism for shiftingthe clutches, an electrically-operated driver for actuating saidmechanism, electric circuits for controlling the movement of thedriver-step by step and for reversing the same, each of said circuitsincluding a switch member automatically operated by said driver, so asto break certain of said circuits and close others, and amanuallyoperated switch lever movable to engage terminals of thecircuits so that the circuits closed by the automatically-operatedswitches can be completed to cause the movement of theelectrically-operated driver.

9. A change speed and reversing gearing comprising adriving part, a partto be driven and clutches for operatively connecting said parts, anelectric control and clutch-operating system comprising mechanismforshifting the clutches, an electrically-operated driver for actuatingsaid mechanism, electric circuits for controlling the movement of thedriver step by step and for reversing the same, each of saidcircuitsincluding a switch member automatically operated by said driver, so asto break certain of said circuits and. close others, a manually-operableswitch lever movable to engage terminals of the circuits so that thecircuits closed by the automatically-operated switches can be completedto cause the movement of ,.the electrically-operated driver, and aprimary switch controlling the closing of said circuits.

10. A change speed and reversing gearing comprising a driving part, apart to be driven and clutches for operatively connecting said parts, anelectric control and clutch-operating system comprising mechanism forshifting the clutches, an electrically-operated driver for actuatingsaid mechanism, electric clrcuits for controlling the movement of thedriver. step by step and V for re'versingthe same, each of said circuitsincluding a switch member automatically,

operated by said driver, so as to break certain of said circults andclose others, a

manually-operated switch lever movable to enga e terminals of thecircuits so that the circuits closed by the automatically-oper-v atedswitches can be completed to cause the driver, and a primary switchcontro driven, a plurality 0 change speed and reverse gears constantlyrotated by the driver for the transmission of power therefrom, and aseries of electrically shiftable and independently movable concentricclutches severally engageable with respective of said gears, saidclutches being operably connected to the parts to be driven. I

12. In a power-transmitting change speed and reversing gearing, adriver, a part to be driven, a pluralityof change speed and reversegears constantly driven by the driver for the transmission of powertherefrom, a series of substantially concentric interconnected andrelatively slidable clutches having their operating faces in a commonplane severally engageable with respective of said gears, said clutchesbeing operably connected to the part to be driven, and electricallycontrolled mechanism for shifting said clutches 13. In apower-transmltting change speed and reversing gearing, a driver, a partto be driven, a plurality of change speed and reverse gears constantlydriven by the driver for the transmission of power therefrom, a seriesof substantially concentric interconnected and relatively slidableclutches having their operating faces in a common plane severallyengageable with respective of said gears, said clutches being operablyconnected to'the part a es driven, and an electric shifting mechanismfor operating said clutches.

14; In a power-transmitting change speed and reversing gearing, adriver, a part 'to be driven, a plurality of change speed and reversegears constantly driven by the driver for the transmission of power'therefrom, a series of substantially concentric interconnected andrelatively slidable clutches having their operating faces in a

